Chapter 9: The Brother Who Knew Everything
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
My younger brother had just admitted that he had contacted the donor's family.
I looked at him.
“Why?””
Ethan rubbed his face.
“Daniel, I was trying to help.””
“Help who?””
“You.””
I laughed.
“By stealing money from my household? By planning to take my children to Ohio? By trying to transfer Nia's trust?””
He shook his head.
“You don't understand the whole situation.””
“Then explain it.””
Ethan looked at Rebecca.
She remained standing beside the counter.
“Mr. Carter,” she said, “you should be aware that your statements may become relevant to a financial investigation. I recommend that you avoid destroying records or contacting anyone connected to the trust.””
Ethan ignored her.
“Richard Hale contacted me first.””
I frowned.
“When?””
“About four years ago.””
“What did he want?””
“He said the fertility clinic had discovered an error in its historical donor records. He wanted to know whether I knew anything about the family.””
I stared at him.
“Why would he contact you?””
Ethan hesitated.
“Because I had helped you with some of the medical paperwork when Vanessa was pregnant.””
I remembered.
Ethan had driven Vanessa to appointments when I was traveling.
He had helped arrange insurance documents.
He had even collected some of the medical reports.
I had trusted him completely.
“What did you tell him?””
“That Nia was healthy. That you were raising her. Nothing more.””
“Then what?””
“He told me there might be a financial trust connected to the donor's estate.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“Did he tell you the amount?””
Ethan nodded.
“Eventually.””
“How much?””
“Several million dollars.””
The kitchen went silent.
I looked at Rebecca.
She appeared just as surprised.
“Several million?””
Ethan nodded.
“Richard said the donor's family had established a legacy fund for any biological children who might be identified in the future.””
I looked at Nia.
She was sitting beside Malik, holding the envelope against her chest.
I felt a wave of anger.
My daughter had been treated like an inconvenience while adults secretly discussed the money connected to her existence.
“What happened next?”” I asked.
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Richard said the family wanted to know whether Nia might qualify.””
“Why didn't he contact me?””
“Because he didn't know how to reach you. And because the clinic had strict confidentiality procedures.””
I stared at him.
“So you became the middleman?””
He nodded.
“And you told Vanessa?””
He looked toward her.
“Yes.””
Vanessa started crying again.
“I didn't know about the money at first.””
Ethan interrupted.
“You knew about it before the first transfer.””
She turned on him.
“You said we could help Sophie!””
“I said we could investigate the situation.””
“You told me Nia's trust would cover everything!””
Rebecca raised her hand.
“Stop. Both of you.””
I looked at my brother.
“Did you tell the donor's family that you were acting on my behalf?””
Ethan hesitated.
Then nodded.
I felt sick.
“You used my name?””
“I thought it would make things easier.””
“Did you tell them Nia was being neglected?””
He looked away.
“No.””
“Did you tell them Vanessa was planning to move her money?””
“No.””
“Did you tell them you were trying to gain control of her trust?””
He finally looked at me.
“Daniel, I never wanted to hurt Nia.””
I pointed toward the dining room.
“Then why did you let her go hungry?””
Ethan had no answer.
I walked to the refrigerator and opened it.
There were several containers inside.
I took out milk, bread, cheese, and fruit.
I placed them on the counter.
“Look at this.””
Everyone watched.
“This is what a ten-year-old should have been able to eat without asking permission.””
Nia looked at the food.
Her eyes filled again.
I turned toward Vanessa.
“You had a house full of food. You had access to money. You had every opportunity to feed these children.””
Vanessa covered her face.
“I made mistakes.””
“No. You made decisions.””
She looked up.
“Daniel, I was trying to protect Sophie.””
“And what about Nia?””
“I didn't think she would understand.””
“She understood enough to write down which days she was allowed to eat.””
Vanessa began sobbing.
Malik moved beside his sister.
I looked at him.
“Are you hungry?””
He nodded.
“Then both of you sit down. Eat whatever you want.””
I heated the leftover shrimp and made fresh sandwiches.
Nia took a piece of bread.
She hesitated before spreading butter on it.
I noticed.
“Sweetheart?””
She looked at me.
“Can I have more than one?””
I felt my throat tighten.
“You can have as much as you want.””
She took two slices.
Then another.
Malik quietly began preparing a plate for his sister.
For the first time that evening, the children were eating without watching Vanessa's face.
Meanwhile, Rebecca continued reviewing the records.
“Daniel, I need to ask Ethan something.””
She turned toward my brother.
“Did Richard Hale ever provide written confirmation of the alleged inheritance?””
Ethan nodded.
“I have an email.””
“Where?””
“My office.””
“Can you access it?””
He hesitated.
Then he pulled out his phone.
A few minutes later, he found the message.
It was from a law firm representing the Hale family.
The email stated that a confidential inquiry had been opened concerning a potential beneficiary connected to a historic fertility treatment.
But the next paragraph was even more disturbing.
It stated that no beneficiary had been formally identified.
No funds had been authorized for transfer.
And no one had permission to act on behalf of the child.
Rebecca read it twice.
Then she looked at Ethan.
“So you knew there was no confirmed inheritance?””
Ethan nodded.
I stared at him.
“You knew?””
He lowered his head.
“I thought it would eventually happen.””
Rebecca placed the email on the table.
“Then why did you and Vanessa attempt to move money from Nia's existing trust?””
Ethan finally lost his composure.
“Because we needed something to show the family that we were acting in Nia's best interests!””
I stared at him.
“You were trying to make yourselves look like her guardians?””
He nodded.
Vanessa suddenly stood.
“Don't put this all on me!””
Ethan turned.
“You came up with the plan!””
“You agreed!””
“You said Daniel would sign!””
“You said his mother had left enough evidence to convince him!””
I looked at both of them.
The argument continued.
And with every sentence, another piece of the truth came out.
They had planned to use the supposed inheritance to justify taking Nia to Ohio.
They wanted to present themselves as the adults protecting her financial interests.
They believed I would eventually sign the transfer documents if they convinced me the money was already hers.
But the alleged inheritance had never been confirmed.
The only real money they could reach was the $250,000 trust my mother had established.
And they had been trying to get their hands on it.
Rebecca finally raised her voice.
“Enough. This conversation is over.””
She turned toward me.
“Daniel, we have sufficient grounds to request immediate protective measures for the children and preserve the financial evidence. I will contact the appropriate authorities first thing tomorrow.””
Patricia, who had been quietly documenting the situation, nodded.
“I'll also make sure the children's statements are recorded separately and appropriately.””
Vanessa looked at me.
“Are you really going to take my children away?””
I stared at her.
“They aren't possessions, Vanessa. They're children who deserve to feel safe.””
She began crying.
“I love them.””
I looked at Nia.
She was eating a sandwich.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As though she still expected someone to take it away.
I turned back toward Vanessa.
“Then you should have acted like it.””
Ethan picked up his jacket.
“Daniel, I need to leave.””
Rebecca immediately spoke.
“Do not remove any documents or electronic records connected to these transactions.””
Ethan stopped.
I looked at him.
“You're not leaving until we finish this.””
He gave me a bitter smile.
“You can't keep me here.””
“I won't. But I can make sure the evidence is preserved.””
He walked toward the door.
Then he stopped beside Nia.
“Sweetheart, I hope you know I never wanted to hurt you.””
Nia looked up.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she asked:
“Uncle Ethan, did you know I wasn't getting dinner?””
He swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Then why didn't you tell Daddy?””
My brother looked down.
He couldn't answer.
Nia returned to her sandwich.
And somehow, that quiet little movement hurt more than anything else.
A few minutes later, Rebecca's phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Then looked at me.
“Daniel, the attorney representing the Hale family has responded.””
“What did they say?””
“They've confirmed that a potential beneficiary was identified through a preliminary genetic inquiry.””
I waited.
Rebecca looked toward Nia.
“And they've requested an immediate meeting with you.””
“Why?””
She hesitated.
“Because the donor's family has information that changes the entire situation.””
My heart started pounding.
“What information?””
Rebecca turned her phone toward me.
An email had arrived with an attached legal notice.
The heading read:
*CONFIDENTIAL FAMILY ESTATE MATTER — BENEFICIARY IDENTIFICATION*
I began reading.
Then I stopped at the final paragraph.
It said the donor's estate had already been notified of an unauthorized attempt to obtain information about Nia.
And the person who had initiated that inquiry was not Ethan.
It was Vanessa.
I looked at my wife.
She had gone completely pale.
Rebecca slowly lowered the phone.
“Daniel, there's another problem.””
“What now?””
She looked at the legal notice.
“The estate's attorneys believe Vanessa may have known about Nia's potential inheritance before your daughter was even born.””
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“No.””
I stepped toward her.
“How?””
She covered her mouth.
Then she whispered:
“Because Richard Hale wasn't the person who first told me about the donor.””
I stared at her.
“Who was?””
She looked directly at me.
May you like
And answered:
“Your mother.””
